According to a new analysis by the Pew Research Center, 52% of different-sex couples with minor children both worked full time in the previous year, marking a record high. This figure has increased by six percentage points over the past decade and by 21 points since 1975. The analysis highlights a trend of college-educated women entering the workforce, driven in part by rising cost-of-living concerns.
The report indicates that the share of families where only the father works full time has decreased from 42% in 1975 to 23% last year. The analysis focused on different-sex couples due to insufficient data on same-sex couples.
Family work arrangements vary by race and ethnicity. For instance, 54% of white mothers and 52% of Asian mothers are in families with two full-time working parents, while 60% of Black mothers also work full time alongside their partners. In contrast, the percentage of Hispanic mothers not working while their partners work full time has remained stable at 32% since 2000.
Educational attainment also influences family work dynamics. About 69% of mothers with postgraduate degrees are in dual-income families, an increase from 59% in 2000. In comparison, 56% of mothers with bachelor's degrees and 43% of mothers with some college experience or less are in similar arrangements.
The Pew research indicates that over 80% of working parents in dual-income families view their financial situation positively, while families with a non-working mother often believe this arrangement benefits their children's wellbeing. The findings suggest that the contemporary family structure increasingly involves both parents working full time.